Horse-rug

ABSTRACT

Horse-rug that contains at least two parts ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) and connectors ( 3 ) for divisibly at taching said parts to each others.

[0001] The invention relates to a horse-rug.

[0002] Horse-rug means a mostly rectangular size, relatively thick andmainly padded quilt or quilted coverlet or blanket which covers thehorse's back and side-flanks, neck and belly. Horse-rugs are mainly usedto cover the horse for insulation against cold, with esthetical meansand/or for protection against dirt and changing climaticallycircumstances.

[0003] The current sizes and volumes of existing horse-rugs do not allowthe easy cleaning by use of a standard household washing machine. Thesewashing machines have generally a volume of 20 to 50 litres and allow aload of maximal 2,5 to 10 kg. Consequently, current horse-rugs dorequire cleaning by a specialised company (cleaner, dry-cleaner etc. ).This is not only very costly but is in addition very time consuming. Thehorse-rug has indeed to go back and forth to the cleaner.

[0004] The object of the invention is mainly to avoid such inconvenienceand to allow easy cleaning in a standard household washing machine.

[0005] A further object of the invention is to construct a horse-rugthat is easy to handle without affecting the normal properties of thehorse-rug such as insulation, waterproof, windproof.

[0006] The above mentioned objects are realised by a horse-rug havingthe specific features set out in claim 1. Specific features forpreferred embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependentclaims.

[0007] The horse-rug, according to an embodiment of the invention, isconstructed such that it is dividable in at least two parts, which aredivisibly attached together with the aid of connectors.

[0008] These connectors enable to connect and disconnect the differentparts of the horse-rug. Possible connectors for releasable attaching thedifferent parts of the horse-rug are buttons, push-buttons, zipperfastener and or auto-attaching tape better known under the commercialname Velcro®.

[0009] For two parts of the horse-rug, a ratio of size can be defined asbeing the quotient of the surface area of one part and the surface areaof the other part.

[0010] According to a possible embodiment of the invention, thehorse-rug comprises two parts having a ratio of size which is between50% and 200%, preferably 75% and 150%, more preferably 75% and 125%,even more preferably 90% and 110%.

[0011] According to a more specific embodiment of the invention, thehorse-rug consists of mainly two releasable attached parts withapproximately identical size, e.g. having a ratio of size ofapproximately 100%.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, thehorse-rug contains two parts wherein the first part covers theshoulders, the front-part of the ribs and side-flanks of the horse andthe second part covers the back, the loins, the croup, the rear-part ofthe ribs and side-flanks of the horse.

[0013] According to this preferred embodiment of the invention, theconnectors are provided with protectors in order to protect the horsefrom the solid elements of the connectors and consequently to protect itfrom injury. These protectors, possibly, comprise a covering overlapextending from one of the parts of the horse-rug that are connected toeach other.

[0014] Other particularities and advantages of the invention will becomeclear in the below detailed description of a specific embodiment of theinvention. The description is only exemplary and does under nocircumstances limit the extent and other embodiments of the invention.The reference numbers have direct reference to the attached figures.

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the top-view of ahorse-rug according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, whereintwo individual parts are releasable attached to each other.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the side-view according tothe line II-II of the embodiment as represented in FIG. 1.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the top-view of theembodiment of the horse-rug as represented in FIG. 1, wherein the twoindividual parts are detached from each other.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the side-view according toline IV-IV of FIG. 3.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the top-view of ahorse-rug according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the back-view according toline X-X of the embodiment of the horse-rug as represented in FIG. 5,wherein the two individual parts are releasable attached to each other.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the back-view according tothe line X-X of the embodiment as represented in FIG. 5, wherein the twoindividual parts are detached from each other.

[0022] The same reference numbers in the various figures refer to thesame elements.

[0023] In general, the current invention relates to a horse-rugcomprising parts that are releasable attached together.

[0024] A horse-rug, according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention, comprises two parts, a first part 1 and a second part 2, asrepresented in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0025] The first part 1 is the front-part of the horse-rug and thesecond part 2 is the rear-part. Both parts are releasable attachedtogether by connectors 3, which may comprise buttons, push-buttons,zipper fastener or auto-attaching tape better know under the commercialname Velcro®.

[0026] Parts 1 and 2 have approximately the same size resulting in aratio of size of part 1 to part 2 of approximately 100%.

[0027] The front-part 1 is stretching from the horse's neck towards, forinstance, almost near the middle of the horse's back. The rear-part 2stretches from the rniddle of the horse's back towards the horse's tail.In this respect, the connectors 3 are arranged in such a way that whenthe horse-rug is properly put onto a horse, these connectors 3 areextending along a direction, which is transversal to the horse'sbackbone. More specifically, these connectors 3 are aligned aliostperpendicular to the horse's backbone.

[0028] By detaching the connectors 3, two independent parts 1 and 2 ofthe horse-rug are obtained, as represented in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0029] An overlap 4 reaches out from underneath the connectors 3 fromthe rear-part 2 and protects the horse against pressure from possiblesolid elements of the connectors as represented in FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0030] On the rear-part 2 of the horse-rug, a tail-protection part 5covers and protects the horse's tail.

[0031] Furthermore, on each of the parts 1 and 2 a belt with a buckle 6,respectively 7, is attached to the horse-rug in order to attach thelatter sideways against the horse's belly. More specifically, thesebelts 6 and 7 are positioned around the horse's belly.

[0032] In an analogue way, there are two fastenings 8 and 9 foreseen onthe front-part 1 of the horse-rug in order to maintain this part inposition around the horse's neck.

[0033] In a similar analogue way, there are two fastenings 10 and 11foreseen on the rear-part 2, to be attached around the horse'srear-legs, in order to maintain this part in position at the rear-end.

[0034] Because the horse-rug comprises two parts, namely parts 1 and 2,these can not only be fitted separately into a household washing machinein order to be easily cleaned but can also be manageable stored. Thisresults from the fact that, in the case of the above preferredembodiment of horse-rug according to the invention, the parts 1 and 2have a reduced surface, which is 50% of the surface of the completehorse-rug, and also a reduced volume, which is 50% of the volume of thecomplete horse-rug if the density of both parts 1 and 2 is the same.

[0035] Another interesting embodiment of a horse-rug according to theinvention, comprises two parts 1 and 2 with nearly identical shape andsize, which can be releasable attached together such that the first part1 completely overlaps the second part 2 as represented in FIGS. 5, 6 and7.

[0036] The first part 1 is the upper-part while the second part 2 is thelower-part of the horse-rug. In this case the ratio of size of part 1 topart 2 is 100%.

[0037] Both parts 1 and 2 extend from the horse's neck towards thehorse's tail.

[0038] The upper-part 1 and the lower-part 2 are releasable connected byconnectors 3, which are located between the parts 1 and 2, in the middleof the parts 1 and 2, and parallel with the horse's backbone. When thehorse-rug is positioned onto the horse, the connectors 3 are alignedabove the horse's backbone.

[0039] Furthermore, as in the above preferred embodiment, fastenings 6to 11 are provide in order to attach the horse-rug onto the horse.

[0040] In the case of the above interesting embodiment of the invention,the parts 1 and 2 have the same surface area as the complete horse-rugbut these have a reduced volume, which is 50% of the volume of thecomplete horse-rug if the density of both parts is the same. Both partscan easier be handled and stored compared to the complete horse-rugsince the volume and also the weight are reduced.

[0041] The invention is obviously not restricted to the above mentioneddescription and to the design as specified in the individual figures.Within the framework of the invention several alternative embodimentscan be considered such as the number of detachable parts, the design ofthe detachable parts, the way of connecting the detachable parts as wellas the position of the detachable parts in relation to each other. Assuch, the horse-rug can consist of more than two parts, which arereleasable attached together.

1. Horse-rug that covers the horse's back and its side-flanks, and thatcomprises at least two parts, a first part (1) and a second part (2),and connectors (3) for releasable attaching said parts characterised inthat the parts (1, 2) are attached to each other and extending inprolongation of each other.
 2. Horse-rug according to claim 1, whereinsaid first part (1) is a front-part and said second part (2) is arear-part.
 3. Horse-rug according to claim 1 or 2, with two parts (1, 2)having a ratio of size between 50% and 200%.
 4. Horse-rug according toclaim 2 or 3, wherein one of said parts (1, 2) comprises at least twosubparts and connectors (3) for releasable attaching these subparts toeach other.
 5. Horse-rug according to one of the claims 1 to 4, whereinsaid connectors (3) are extending along a direction which is transverseto the horse's backbone.
 6. Horse-rug according to one of the claims 1to 5, wherein said first part (1) covers the shoulders, the front-partof the ribs and side-flanks of the horse and said second part (2) coversthe back, the loins, the croup, the rear-part of the ribs andside-flanks of the horse.
 7. Horse-rug according to one of the claims 1to 6, wherein said connectors (3) are provided with protectors (4) forprotecting the horse from injury.
 8. Horse-rug according to claim 7,wherein said protectors (4) comprises an overlap extending from one ofthe parts that are connected to each other by means of said connectors(3).
 9. Horse-rug according to one of the claims I to 8, wherein saidconnectors (3) are selected from the group consisting of buttons,push-buttons, zipper fastener and/or auto-attaching tape.